Organizational Setting 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 
 
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and malnutrition. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Social Protection is a critical pillar for the acceleration of progress in the fight against hunger, food insecurity and rural poverty. FAO is implementing the United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection Phase III which aims to support the Government of the Republic of Zambia in closing strategic gaps in the provision of social protection while ensuring coherent policies and programmes that are interoperable and integrate critical mainstreaming agendas.

Reporting Lines

The National Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Country Representative, and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR – Programmes and technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) in the FAO Sub Regional Office, and in close collaboration with the relevant staff In FAO Zambia and other country offices. The incumbent will carry out the following tasks;

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for the overall coordination, strategic planning, technical and administrative oversight of the Joint Programme by ensuring effective implementation in prioritized areas, facilitating collaboration between stakeholders, including the Government at different levels (National and local level), technical institutions, and project beneficiaries. The incumbent will ensure projects objectives and outcomes are achieved in a collaborative manner, building the necessary complementarities, optimizing the resources and expertise allocated, in line with priorities set by FAO and the Zambian Government.

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the National Coordinator will undertake the following tasks on the assigned United Nations Joint Programme on Social Protection: 
•     Coordinate the Social Protection Joint Programme Phase III activities, ensuring alignment with the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and national priorities.
•     Foster and strengthen partnerships with national institutions, including the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, Ministry of Agriculture, UN implementing partner agencies and other relevant stakeholders.
•     Coordinate the implementation of social protection food Security programmes and operationalization of the Food Security Pack Management Information System. 
•     Establish collaborations and synergies with other social protection cooperating partners relevant to FAO and the joint programme.
•     Continuously monitor the Joint Programme progress to ensure the implementation of programme activities.
•     Oversee the Joint Programme administration and operations, including Letters of Agreement, procurements, and other related tasks.
•     Ensure timely planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting of the Joint Programme’s activities and results according to FAO's standards and timelines.
•     Support and contribute to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of tasks proposed by the programme. 
•     Support the communication of programmes progress and results through the FAO Zambia communication's office and the joint programme communication’s team.
•     Produce internal reports according to FAO cooperate requirements.  
•     Any other assigned tasks.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced Degree in Development Studies, Project Management, Socio-Economic Development, Social Policy, Sociology or closely related fields to the FAO mandate.
•     At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in Social Protection, Management Information Systems, Social Policy, Project management and transformative livelihood programming.
•     Extent and relevance of experience working with the Government, UN agencies and agrifood-system development policies, strategies and programmes.
•     Working knowledge of English 
•     National of Zambia

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus 
•     Teamwork 
•     Communication 
•     Building Effective Relationships 
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional skills 

•     Strong knowledge in transformative social protection, social policies and social sustainability programmes.  
•     Experience in digital social protection management information systems.
•     Understanding of agriculture extension methodologies, agribusiness and climate smart agriculture practices.
•     Experience in coordination of government implemented social protection, agriculture or rural transformative programmes
•     Understanding of gender transformation and the life cycle approaches
•     Experience in resource mobilization including concept development and proposal writing.
•     Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and other basic software applications  
•     Attention to detail and problem-solving skills 
•     Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information to diverse Strong organizational and planning skills and commitment to discretion and confidentiality Strong organizational and planning skills and commitment to discretion and confidentiality 
•     Familiarity with UN human resource administrative procedures and systems 
•     Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION